Rifle zeroing device

ABSTRACT

A mechanical holder consisting of two adjustable clamps, rigidly secured to two shafts to form a carriage adapted to move horizontally through four self-aligning bearings bolted to an angle iron frame. A coil spring embracing each of the shafts provides compressional force for control of the movement of the shafts within the bearings. When this holder is securely fastened to an immovable base, the rifle is to be clamped at the butt and forend and when the rifle is discharged it allows the rifle to recoil. The springs absorb the kinetic energy and return the rifle to its original position in such a manner as not to interfere with the rifle&#39;&#39;s normal performance.

United States Patent 1191 Schmidt et al.

1451 Apr. 23, 1974 RIFLE ZEROING DEVICE [76] lnventors: Gilbert R. Schmidt; John W. Briggs,

both of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 97,476

[52] U.S. Cl. 73/167, 73/11 [51] Int. Cl. F41c 31/04 [58] Field of Search 73/167, 11; 33/46 AT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,233 12/1957 Dower 73/167 2,731,829 1/1956 Wigington 73/167 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant ExaminerDenis E. Corr 5 7 ABSTRACT A mechanical holder consisting of two adjustable clamps, rigidly secured to two shafts to form a carriage adapted to move horizontally through four selfaligning bearings bolted to an angle iron frame. A coil spring embracing each of the shafts provides compressional force for control of the movement of the shafts within the bearings. When this holder is securely fastened to an immovable base, the rifle is to be clamped at the butt and forend and when the rifle is discharged it allows the rifle to recoil. The springs absorb the kinetic energy and return the rifle to its original position in such a manner as not to interfere with the rifles normal performance.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures J VTI- PATENTEB APR 2 3 I974 1 RIFLE ZEROING DEVICE This mechanical holder has two uses: first, it will prove the rifles accuracy, as the rifle returns to its exact original position after each shot. Secondly it simplifies the zeroing in of a sighted rifle, either iron or telescopic sighted.

In drawings which illustrate embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a plan view.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation.

FIG. 3 is a face view of Fore Clamp.

FIG. 4 is a side view of Fore Clamp.

FIG. 5 is a face view of Butt Clamp.

FIG. 6 is a side view of Butt Clamp.

The tool illustrated comprises two parallel shafts number 3 adapted to move horizontally through four self-aligning bearings 2 which are bolted to an angle iron frame 1 with bolts 9. The Fore Clamp is comprised of a steel plate 11 recessed at the top to form a cradle and with two nuts and two fore clamp collars 4 welded thereto. Two leaf springs 7 are bolted to plate 11 and are adjusted by two wing screws 8 through nuts 15 to provide an adjustable clamp to support the rifle at the fore-end. This fore clamp is fastened to shafts 3 with pins 5 to provide the means for control of the longitudinal movement of the shafts in co-operation therewith of the coil springs to absorb the kinetic energy of recoil. The butt clamp is comprised of steel plate 12 with bracket 16, two butt clamp collars 4 and nut 18 welded thereto. Bottom bracket 17 is welded to plate 14 which is attached to plate l2 with a tapered head screw 13 to form a unitary whole, in which plate 14 is adjustable vertically by means of screw bolt 10 screwing into nut 18 with a slot for bolt 13, to provide an adjustable clamp to support the rifle at the butt end. This butt plate is fastened to shaft 3 by two pins 5. The two springs 6 and two washers 19 embracing shafts 3 are held in position by two spring collars 4" which are fastened to shafts 3 with pins 5". This tool is required to be firmly bolted to a solid base through bolt holes 20 in the angle iron frame.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A gun zeroing device comprised of; a rectangular frame, two parallel shafts mounted over said frame by means of four bearings, two bearings being attached at each end of said frame thus allowing for longitudinal movement of said shafts, two clamps spanning said shafts and secured thereto, said clamps comprising adjustable means for gripping a rifle at the butt and foreend, two coil springs and two collars, of which one coil spring and one collar embraces one shaft, the other coil spring and collar embracing the other shaft, thus providing means for the control of the longitudinal movement of the shafts within the bearing.

2. A gun zeroing device as defined in claim 1 in which the butt clamp is comprised of a steel base plate rigidly secured between two collars at the bottom of said plate, said collars embrace and are secured to the end of each shaft, said base plate having an inverted V flange rigidly secured to the top of said plate in such a manner as to extend over the top portion of the rifle butt, said plate having a nut rigidly secured at right angles to the face and at the bottom centre of base plate, said plate being drilled and tapped in the centre to provide means for attaching a second plate by means of a tapered head screw, said second plate having a V flange rigidly secured to its centre, in a manner to extend over the lower portion of the gun butt, a vertical slot above said flange to provide means for attaching and guiding the vertical movement of said second plate over the face of the base plate by means of the afore mentioned tapered head screw, said second plate being tapered to the bottom and pressed to form a flange at right angles to the face of said second plate, said flange being centre drilled, said second plate having a slot extending vertically from the flange at bottom to provide means for the nut secured to base plate to pass through and allow said second plate to slide against the flat surface of the base plate, said nut providing a guide and means for vertical adjustment of the second plate over the base plate by means of a bolt passing through the hole in the bottom flange of the second plate and threading into the nut secured to the base plate.

3. A gun zeroing device as defined in claim 1 in which the fore clamp is comprised of a steel plate rigidly secured between two collars at the bottom of said plate, said collars embrace and are secured to each shaft directly behind the front bearings, said plate being drilled, at two points parallel to and near the bottom edge, to provide means for fastening two pieces of spring steel extending vertically to the top of said plate, and at right angles to the face of said plate, said plate being recessed at the top to form a cradle, said plate having two nuts rigidly secured at the top and facing each other on the spring steel side to provide means for horizontal adjustment of the spring steel against the rifle fore-end by means of bolts threaded through said nuts.

4. A gun zeroing device having a muzzle and butt end comprising two adjustable clamps rigidly secured to two shafts to form a carriage adapted to move horizontally through four bearings bolted to an angle iron frame, two bearings at the muzzle end and the other two being at the butt end, said carriage also including at least four collars, two spring collars and two butt clamp collars, said device further including two recoil springs abutting two said spring collars, of which one recoil spring and one spring collar embrace one shaft and the other recoil spring and spring collar embrace the other shaft, said spring collars being securely fastened to said shafts in front of the butt end bearings, one end of each recoil spring embracing each shaft resting on the rear face of one of said spring collars and the opposite end resting on the front face of each bearing at the butt end, whereby providing means for compressing said recoil springs to urge the carriage forward so that the fronts of the butt clamp collars engage the rear of the butt bearings to provide compression in the recoil springs for control of the fore and aft movement of the carriage shafts within the bearings in order to absorb recoil. 

1. A gun zeroing device comprised of; a rectangular frame, two parallel shafts mounted over said frame by means of four bearings, two bearings being attached at each end of said frame thus allowing for longitudinal movement of said shafts, two clamps spanning said shafts and secured thereto, said clamps comprising adjustable means for gripping a rifle at the butt and fore-end, two coil springs and two collars, of which one coil spring and one collar embraces one shaft, the other coil spring and collar embracing the other shaft, thus providing means for the control of the longitudinal movement of the shafts within the bearing.
 2. A gun zeroing device as defined in claim 1 in which the butt clamp is comprised of a steel base plate rigidly secured between two collars at thE bottom of said plate, said collars embrace and are secured to the end of each shaft, said base plate having an inverted V flange rigidly secured to the top of said plate in such a manner as to extend over the top portion of the rifle butt, said plate having a nut rigidly secured at right angles to the face and at the bottom centre of base plate, said plate being drilled and tapped in the centre to provide means for attaching a second plate by means of a tapered head screw, said second plate having a V flange rigidly secured to its centre, in a manner to extend over the lower portion of the gun butt, a vertical slot above said flange to provide means for attaching and guiding the vertical movement of said second plate over the face of the base plate by means of the afore mentioned tapered head screw, said second plate being tapered to the bottom and pressed to form a flange at right angles to the face of said second plate, said flange being centre drilled, said second plate having a slot extending vertically from the flange at bottom to provide means for the nut secured to base plate to pass through and allow said second plate to slide against the flat surface of the base plate, said nut providing a guide and means for vertical adjustment of the second plate over the base plate by means of a bolt passing through the hole in the bottom flange of the second plate and threading into the nut secured to the base plate.
 3. A gun zeroing device as defined in claim 1 in which the fore clamp is comprised of a steel plate rigidly secured between two collars at the bottom of said plate, said collars embrace and are secured to each shaft directly behind the front bearings, said plate being drilled, at two points parallel to and near the bottom edge, to provide means for fastening two pieces of spring steel extending vertically to the top of said plate, and at right angles to the face of said plate, said plate being recessed at the top to form a cradle, said plate having two nuts rigidly secured at the top and facing each other on the spring steel side to provide means for horizontal adjustment of the spring steel against the rifle fore-end by means of bolts threaded through said nuts.
 4. A gun zeroing device having a muzzle and butt end comprising two adjustable clamps rigidly secured to two shafts to form a carriage adapted to move horizontally through four bearings bolted to an angle iron frame, two bearings at the muzzle end and the other two being at the butt end, said carriage also including at least four collars, two spring collars and two butt clamp collars, said device further including two recoil springs abutting two said spring collars, of which one recoil spring and one spring collar embrace one shaft and the other recoil spring and spring collar embrace the other shaft, said spring collars being securely fastened to said shafts in front of the butt end bearings, one end of each recoil spring embracing each shaft resting on the rear face of one of said spring collars and the opposite end resting on the front face of each bearing at the butt end, whereby providing means for compressing said recoil springs to urge the carriage forward so that the fronts of the butt clamp collars engage the rear of the butt bearings to provide compression in the recoil springs for control of the fore and aft movement of the carriage shafts within the bearings in order to absorb recoil. 